X-ray of flowers and the like



July 3, 1945'. v A. McFARLAND L 2,379,814

X-RAY OF FLOWERS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /f I Im/entor:

,7 .Al6'60M.M d) and 1945- A. M. MCFARLAND l 2,379,814

X-RAY 0F FLOWERS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 V 4 4 1 f 6 i v 4 INVENTOR. llioajllM ikrland may;

Patented July 3, 1945 UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE,

2,379,814 N ,X-RAY or miownns AND THE use Alice M. McFarland, Cincinnati Ohio Application December 28, 1942, Serial No.470A01 (01.250-65) Claims.

This invention relates to a process for producing an artistic picture through the use of. the X-ray and novel methods of exposure, developmentand printing. The processrelatesparticularly to objects of relatively light texture or density such as flowers, fruits andvegetables, :and results in reproductions of the forms of such objeots together with interior structure which shows in bright contrast with the background produced in accordance with the present invention.

.Another object isto produce an X-ray picture of the kind described, in which the background is a solid and unvarying black, whereby striking contrast with the subject'reproduced, is achieved.

Anotherobject is to produce. the results described in a simple manner requiring only readily available, and for the most part, standard equipment.

These and other objects are attainedbythe means described herein and shown in the accompanying illustrations, 'inwhich Fig. 1 shows a flower reproduced pictorially according to the process of the present invention; Fig. 2 isa vertical cross section of equipment used during the practice of my process and having a flower associated therewith. i

While the X-ray has been employed heretofore in piotorially reproducing various kinds of, objects, attempts to pictorially represent suchobjects. as flowers, fruits and vegetables, of relatively light texture or density, have notbeen successful because of the poor background resulting in such pictures, such background having been cloudy and uneven, thus failing to provide a pleasing and proper contrast Withthejsubject 'siZe as to accommodate the flower. This film is previously positioned in a dark box 6, that is a box with a black interior which will prevent the from the film and thereafter an X-ray exposure is made utilizing low voltage. -F0r example, in a delicateflower such as the one shown inxthe illustration, 16 to 20 kilovolts areutilized, while for a flower of heavier'structure, 20 to 24 kilovolts, milliamperes, may .beused. Exposure is madefor about 20 seconds. (After the X-rayexposurehas been "made, the X-ray tube-is deenergizedrand on an X ray hanger in Kodak developing solu- .tion at 65 F. for 5, minutesl The film is then understood, however, that variations in details of the person skilled in the art will flnd it possible;

to vary these in proper proportions while maintaining the essentials herein described.

The process is,of course, carried out-in .afluo roscopically dark room. A flower,.such astheone shown in the illustration ,is a' rangedonan uncovered non-screen X-ray film ,,liig.- 2., of. such for about half an hour.

, properly dried.

brought within. a 30 inch distance of the film. The. black paper cover is removed from theloox,

and the flower, still in the same positionon the film, is exposed for one second to the light of the filament in the X ray tube. i This hasbeen found .a convenient manner of providing a properly positioned light of the quality required for the pun pose of the invention. The black interior of the, box precludes reflection of light, and the result is that the film, all around the flower is effectively fogged without any areas of lighter background resultingunder portions of the flower slightly raised oifthefilm. 1 i M The -film' is now transferred, under opaque coverings, to the developing room and developed. It has been found satisfactory to place the-,film

removed,.rinsed in clear water for 30 seconds and placed in afixer whereby the emulsion on th film is hardened for further protecting the image.

The, film is maintained in the fixer for about .15

minutes and is then placed in clear runningwater The negative X-ray so produced is now utilized in makinga positive. Forthis purpose the negative Xf-ray is taken to the darkroomand placed in a; printing frame over which an unexposed regular type X-ray film is positioned. A softlight "to burn forfapproximately l5fseconds. f meme we w re; we

is now produced in the dark room at distance of about five feet from the twofllms and onthat,

side of the printing frame whereinthe negative X-ray is positioned. The light so produced should be of soft quality and it has been found satisfactory to strike a matchaandpennitthe same Thereafter the film is to employ the smallest amount possible of light or an over-exposed film will result.

The exposed undeveloped film is then removed from the printing frame, fastened on an X-ray film hanger, placed in Kodak developing solution (or the equivalent) at 65 F. for about 3 minutes. The film is then removed, rinsed in clear water for. 20 seconds and placed in a fixer for minutes. It is then placed in clear running water for approximately half an hour and there after thoroughly dried.

The positive print so produced is now utilized in making the final picture of this invention.

The positive X-ray print is taken to the dark room, and placed in a printing frame along with a sheet of white, semi-mat doubleweight, photographic paper, such as "N2 Kodabromide.

The two are thenexposed to a moderate light for about 5 seconds, with the positive print toward the light, the distance between the film and the light being about 6 feet.

An ordinary ceiling light equipped with a 75.watt bulb and covered with afrosted glass bowl has been found satisfactory for thispurpose. The exposed sheetof paper is then removed from the frame and placed in the equivalent of the D72 photographic developing solution until the image has been developed out to thedesired density. The sheet is -then removed from the developer, rinsed in clear water for about seconds and placed in a photogr'aphic non-acid hypo solution for 20 minutes for fixing the image, after which the sheet is placed in clear running water for about an hour. Thereafter the print is placed between two pieces of.smooth white cloth, which in turn are covered by apair of cardboard sheets, and so permitted themselves upon consideration of the means White, crystal-like image repro-' paper by exposing said positive and, sheet toa herein disclosed but these are believed to be comprised within the spirit, and scope of the inven-' I tion. 7

What is claimed is:

objects of relatively light texture or density, such as flowers, the process comprising making a' negative of the object on a non-screen X-ray film, exposing the undeveloped negative with the object positioned thereon to a flash of light, developing the negative, making a positive from said negative on regular type X-ray film,. de-

veloping the positive, and making a final negative print from said positive.

-2'. The process of making an X-ray picture of i '1. The process of making an X-ray picture of objects of relatively light texture or density, such I as flowers, the process comprising making a [negative X-ray exposure of the object, subject- .ing the exposedfilm with the object positioned thereon to a flash of light, making a positivefrom said negative by exposing the juxtaposed films to soft light, and printing the positive. so produced onwhite paper to produce the final picture with background black and the object pictured light.

3 The processof making an X-ray picture of objects of relatively light texture or density,'such flowers, the process comprising making a negax 6. The process of making an objects of relatively light texture or density, such as flowers, the process comprising making tive low voltage X-ray exposure of the object, subjecting the exposed film with the object positioned thereon to a flash of light, developing the negative so produced, making a positive fromsaid negative by exposing the juxtaposed films to a soft light relatively distant from the films, developing the positive so made, printing the positive on a suitable final sheet by exposing the sheet and the positive to a moderate light, and developing said sheet. l l

4. The process of making an X-ray picture of objects of relatively light texture or density, such as flowers, the process comprising placing such an object on a non-screen X-rayfilm, making anex'posure by use of an X-ray tube positioned above said film, exposing the film with the ob ject positioned thereon to light for a brief interval, developing the film, printing the negative produced on a regular type X-ray film by use of a small light placed at a substantial distance from the two films and maintained for a short interval, developing the positive so produced, printing the positive on a sheet of white moderate light for abrief period, and. developing the exposed sheet. v

v5. The process of making an objects of. relatively light texture or density, such as fiowers, the process comprising making an exposure of such an object placed directly on a non-screen X-ray film in a'covered dark 1 box, the X-ray tube being spaced a substantial distance, from-the film an actuated under, low

voltage,re'ducing"the distance between the film' and the X-ray.v tube, uncovering the box and X momentarily energizing the filament of said tube, developing, fixing and drying the film, printing the negative so produced'on a regular type X-ray film byuse .of a small. light placed at a: substantial distance from the two films and maintained for a short period,.developing,, fix,- ing and drying the positive so produced, printw ing the positive ona sheet of photographic white paper. by exposing said positive and sheet to a moderate light,'an d developing, fixing and drythe exposed sheet. r b

-X-ray picture of an exposureof such an object placed directly on anon-screen X-ray film positioned in a darkcolored-boxunder a dark cover, the X-ray tube being placed approximately seventy inches above the film and actuated under lowvoltage for about twenty Secondsreducing the distance be tween the film and the X-ray tube to about thirty inches, uncovering the box and energizing for about one second the filament of the X-ray tube, developing, fixing and drying the film, placing the negative so produced inclose proximity with an unexposed X-rayfilm in a dark room and printing the former on the latter by lighting a soft light for about fifteen seconds at a distance of about five feet from the films,-developing, fixing,- and drying'the positive 50' produced, placing the positive infclose proximity with a sheet of white photographic paper in a. dark room,.print ing the former, on the latter by lighting a shielded, light or about seventy-five watt strength at a exposure of an object and comprising placing the object directly on 1 a suitable 11m; exposing X-ray picture of 2,379,814 1 3 I the object and film to low-voltage X-rays above the object and film to low-voltage X-rays above 15 kilovolts with a shield such as dark paper interposed between the object and the source of rays, removing the shield, and exposing the object and film to a flash of light.

8. The process of making a negative X-ray exposure of an object and. comprising placing the object directly on a suitable film, exposing the object and film to low-voltage X-rays above 15 kilovolts, and thereafter exposing the film 10 with the object still positioned thereon to a brief interval of light.

9. The process of making a negative X-ray exposure of an object and comprising placing the object directly on a suitable film, exposing 15 15 kilovolts; and thereafter exposing the film with the object still positioned thereon to a brief interval of light while shielding the same from f posing the film with the object still positioned thereon to a brief interval of light.

ALICE M. McFARLAND. 

